Leadership Challenge: Using Sources of Power Ethically

The CEO of a large company has retained you as a management consultant to look into an area of concern that she has. With all of the recent corporate scandals like Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, and ImClone, she is wondering how she can avoid these sorts of problems within her company.

She has asked you to research and prepare a report that summarizes the various kinds of power she has at her disposal and how this power could be effectively utilized to avoid these sorts of problems within her own company.

There are a myriad of leadership models, most of which discuss sources of power. Using the model presented in your text and accessing other sources as supporting material, list and explain the sources of power that the CEO of a large company typically has at her disposal.

Describe how these powers can be used to avoid the various operational, administrative, and ethical problems experienced by companies. Please respond to this question by identifying three specific business problems that can be addressed through the use of “influence tactics.”

For each specific problem, describe the influence tactic that should be used, the source of power behind that influence tactic, and why you believe that this influence tactic will effectively address that problem.

Use the Library or other Web resources to support your argument. Be sure to cite your sources using APA Style 5th edition guidelines.

Explain the role of individual differences and traits in leadership.
Apply ethical reasoning skills and ethical theories to business situations.
Recognize situations that present potential legal and ethical issues and develop solutions for those issues.
Apply critical thinking skills to analyze business situations.